“Like with Mr Bean, the rehearsals are the writing process”: Rowan Atkinson on Man vs Bee

Fans of Mr Bean, Blackadder, Johnny English or any and all of the above, rejoice – Rowan Atkinson is back! A staple of British comedy for decades, the master of slapstick, physical comedy and witty historical satire has turned his hand to a contemporary take on his unique brand of humour.

In his brand new Netflix series, Atkinson is a house sitter in an ultra-modern and extravagant home, a job he takes on at the expense of going on holiday with his daughter, much to her chagrin. As one probably senses from the minute his character, divorcee Trevor Bingley, sets foot in the house, full to the brim of breakable objects and high-tech gadgets, not all goes to plan. The snag? A pesky, seemingly immortal bee that poor old clumsy Trevor just can’t seem to get the better of.

The Upcoming had the pleasure of hearing from the ever-charming comedian ahead of the show’s launch, who spoke humbly about his career, how he picks his projects and the trials and tribulations of filming a series about a man versus a bee. 

Sarah Bradbury

Man vs Bee is released on Netflix on 24^th June 2022.

Watch the trailer for Man vs Bee here: